It is with much regret that I inform you that Phil Young died at midday today (25th November 2008)

I will keep you informed as and when I get more details.

Phil`s Funeral will take place at Worthing Crematorium on Wednesday 03 December, time 1420hrs.

No flowers but donations if desired to the TEAR FUND (Enter TEAR FUND on the web to see the good they do)

Cheques made out to the TEAR FUND and sent to:

92-94 Broadwater St West

Worthing, West Sussex

BN14 9DE

Address of Phils widow Kate.

Findon

West Sussex

Obituary



WO11 Phil Young
The Rifle Brigade/ Green Jackets/The Royal Green Jackets

Philip, or Phil as those in the Regiment knew and called him, was born in 1927 at Ealing, London, he was the youngest of three brothers, enlisting in The Rifle Brigade in 1945 and leaving the army in 1978, a service of 33 years. At his time of enlistment as a Regular Rifleman, WW2 was drawing to a close and he was to benefit from the experiences of those who had served in that war. This experience he was able to impart to so many, especially the young National Servicemen and Regulars who were soon to be enlisted in their thousands in what was to be the largest peacetime army the country had ever known - the Cold War had started. By the early 1950s  he had already established himself as a much respected NCO and more importantly as a fine marksman a skill that required much dedication and self-discipline.

He and many of his fellow marksmen of all ranks and largely trained by him were able to impart their expertise to the rest of the battalion. He personally made a tremendous contribution not only to the battalion shooting team but also to those aspiring to become members of that select group by teaching them to control their breathing, aiming off for wind and knowing how to spot where shots were hitting the target or not as the case may be.

Phil won practically every major shooting cup and competition the nation has to offer but The Queens Medal always eluded him. He was never selfish and took tremendous pride in contributing to the training of follow Rifle Brigade/ Green Jacket Riflemen Alan Notley and Vic Brooks both holders of The Queens Medal. Alan Notley, later to captain the countrys Biathlon team in the Olympics, was forever grateful for the help Phil used to give them.

A fellow Rifleman wrote:
I remember Phil from my shooting team days as a strong minded and well liked character who in my opinion was the mainstay of a powerful trio of the finest marksmen the regiment has produced in that era consisting of Phil, Vic Brookes and Alan Notley.  Phil was an inspiration, to us young soldiers.  He had a lot of patience and was a true gentleman.

I should add we were not expected in a Regiment named after the Rifle to be bad shots, the standard was set high and he played a major part in all of us achieving that standard.

There was more to Phil than shooting-though his e-mail address containing the calibre of the bullet, 303, he so often fired, always reminded us of his love for it-he wouldnt have had it any other way.

Someone 53 years on from when he joined writes:
Phil Young was my platoon sergeant in Winchester in 1955. He turned a rough bunch of national service men into a smart platoon of Green Jackets. He expected a high standards and he got it. He was a man one did not want to let down.

I should add to that by saying this Phil, had too much pride to let his Riflemen down-he gave them his best and how well after all these years he must have done, to be remembered in this way by so many.

Someone else writes:
Phil you were, and are a man I have great respect for. I have many good memories of you from my time on the 3rd Bn shooting team; you gave me good advice when I had a difficult choice to make and were an excellent role model for many young "Chosen Men".

Phil loved his cars and took great pride and joy in them, always tinkering and cleaning them. In those early days he was just about the only Senior NCO to own a car. Stories abound of him using the Regimental square when it was iced over as a skid pad-well he never did believe in drill.

Phil and Joyce were married in 1954 both were very much part of Regimental activities and played a major role in the Sergeants Mess and to the forefront of all social events. They had 28 years together- Joyce died in 1982

Introduced by friends Phil and Kate married and for their 24 years together had a loving and enjoyable life.

Phil was a great person and husband, loving, kind, generous and a very good family man who loved his Regiments The Rifle Brigade and The Royal Green Jackets and never forgot his army life and army friends.

He will always be remembered for what did for others, his contribution to marksmanship, to many generations of Riflemen and the success they achieved from him doing so. His contribution not only to them but the army throughout was enormous.


WO11 Philip Young,
The Rifle Brigade, Green Jackets, The Royal Green Jackets
30 Oct 1927-25 Nov 2008


Eulogy given  by Ron Cassidy at the funeral.


Phil Young

Phillip was born in 1927 at Ealing, London, he was the youngest of three brothers, enlisting in The Rifle Brigade in 1945 and leaving the army in 1978, a service of 33 years. At his time of enlistment as a Regular Rifleman, WW2 was drawing to a close and he was to benefit from the experiences of those who had served in that war. This experience he was able to impart on to so many of us, especially the young National Servicemen and Regulars who were soon to be enlisted in their thousands in what was to be the largest peacetime army the country had ever known-the Cold War had started.

I seem to have known Phillip forever or Phil as those in the Regiment knew and called him. He was about six years ahead of me in service and when I joined The Rifle Brigade in 1951 he had already established himself as an NCO and perhaps some would say more importantly in the art of target shooting. For it was a skill that required much dedication.

He and many of his fellow experts of all ranks were able to impart their expertise to the rest of the battalion, he personally made a tremendous contribution not only to our shooting team but also to the likes of such as me teaching us to shoot, learning all about controlling our breathing, aiming off for wind and knowing how to spot where our shots were hitting the target.
Only Alan Notley and Vic Brooks both Queens medallists-this awarded, and proudly worn along side campaign medals,  it was given for being the armys champion shot,  Alan later to captain the countrys Biathlon team in the Olympics, could tell you the help Phil used to give them. He was never selfish, always wanting all to achieve.


Though someone else wrote:
I remember Phil from my shooting team days as a strong minded and well liked character who in my opinion was the mainstay of a powerful trio of the finest marksmen the regiment has produced in that era consisting of Phil, Vic Brookes and Alan Notley.  Phil was an inspiration, to us young soldiers.  He had a lot of patience and was a true gentleman.

I should add we were not expected in a Regiment named after the Rifle to become bad shots, the standard was set high and he played a major part in all of us achieving that standard.

There was more to Phil than shooting-though his e-mail address containing the calibre of the bullet, 303, he so often fired, always reminded us of his love for it-he wouldnt have had it any other way.

Someone 53 years on from when he joined writes:

Phil Young was my platoon sergeant in Winchester in 1955. He turned a rough bunch of national service nig nogs into a smart platoon of Green Jackets. He expected a high standard of turn out and he got it. He was a man one did not want to let down.

I should add to that by saying that Phil, had too much pride to  let his bunch of nig nogs down-he gave them his best and how well after all these years he must have done, to be remembered in this way.

Someone else writes
Phil you were, and are a man I have great respect for. I have many good memories of you from my time on the 3rd Bn shooting team; you gave me good advice when I had a difficult choice to make and were an excellent role model for many young "Chosen Men".

But there was the down side to his career, some might say even amusing.

When the Bn was in Celle-Western Germany prior to Bulford, John Hind was provost sergeant and shared a room with Phil.   In those days it was a working day on Saturday.  There was a Bn Parade but as Provost Sgt John didn't go on parade but Phil was the right marker for HQ Coy.  John lay in bed and when the bugler sounded 'Right Markers' he woke Phil with the words Theyre playing your tune" You can just imagine the panic that might of ensued.

Phil was charged for missing the parade and got a severe reprimand.

I never did find out if that cost him his Long Service and Good Conduct medal?

Motor cars. Phil loved his cars and took great pride and joy in all he had, always tinkering and cleaning them. In those early days he was just about the only Senior NCO to own a car. My own memories are of him using the Regimental square when it was iced over in Germany as a skid pad-well he never did believe in drill.

Dennis Williams writes
When we were in Bulford, and just after the abortive Advance Party to Korea had returned John Hind was outside the Sgts Mess accommodation practicing with the discus when it went through Phils windscreen - Phil was the only person in the Sgts Mess with a car. Our hut housed among others George Blunden-the (RQMS) who was just coming out of the shower.  He shouted at John   Don't tell Phil until I get dressed, I want to see his face when you to tell him".

What was said then is unrepeatable even in todays liberal society

It was the character of Phil that he never let John Hind forget these incidents but they also remained very good friends as those who know can testify.
He was also a good and most likable person, always forthright in his views and easy to laugh with, he would never do anyone a bad turn.

It was the character of Phil that he never let John Hind forget these incidents but they also remained very good friends as those who know can testify.
He was also a good and most likable person, always forthright in his views and easy to laugh with, he would never do anyone a bad turn.

Phil and Joyce were married in 1954 both were very much part of Regimental activities and played a major role in the Sergeants Mess and to the forefront of all social events. They had 28 years together
Joyce died in 1982

Introduced by friends Phil and Kate married and for their 24 years together had a loving and enjoyable life. I have to say that Kate was completely at home with all Phils Regimental and military friends and all have fond regards for her and she a great asset to Phil in whatever they took on.

I suspect that Phil was more than in his element for he adored children and Kates son Tony and his wife Susan had James who was about a year old and Felicity who was born about three years later-knowing Phil he would have been a proper and loving Grandfather.

He loved playing bowls and disliked gardening, though that didnt stop him and Kate buying a bungalow with a large garden.

Kate has told me that he was a great person and husband, loving, kind, generous and a very good family man who loved his Regiments The Rifle Brigade and The Royal Green Jackets and never forgot his army life.

In conclusion I would ask you to remember all that Phil did for others, his contribution to many generations of Riflemen and the success they achieved from him doing so.
His contribution not only to them but the army throughout was enormous.

He will be long remembered and missed by us all.